Rising People’s Party (RPP) asked how the state government could build a chief minister’s residential complex in “Hollywood style – at 10x the actual cost – but cannot release the few Crores of scholarship money – money given by the Central government?” ANCSU has also served an ultimatum on the government on the scholarship issue.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The Rising People’s Party (RPP) of Nagaland has alleged that the United Democratic Alliance government in the state is indulging in “lies, propaganda and stealing”.
In a press release issued on Monday, the RPP stated, “Scholarship money released by the central government does not belong to the Higher Education department or the UDA government. This money is meant for the students and therefore it’s unacceptable that the government should humiliate and harass the student community year after year over the issue. Is it so that that unless the ANCSU or the student community remind the department every year funds cannot be released, money which rightfully belongs to the students?” said RPP
The party also asked how the state government could build a chief minister’s residential complex in “Hollywood style – at 10x the actual cost – but cannot release the few Crores of scholarship money – money given by the Central government?”
“When the Finance Department can release Rs. 30 Cr as ‘Additional Funds’ for a ghost road project in Phek district, what is stopping the same department from releasing the few Crores meant for genuine beneficiaries?” asked RPP and added that this act is called “Theft”.
RPP further alleged that, apart from fleecing innocent students, the UDA coalition has become adept in peddling lies. Some politicians and departmental officials are doing sleepless rounds trying to convince landowners that all Group D appointments have been banned by the high Court till date because of the PIL filed by RPP, said the press release.
READ court order
On November 10, 2021, the High Court issued an order categorically allowing the state to conduct recruitment in Group D posts. RPP informed all the landowners that there is no ban in appointment to Group D post in the state and if any department is refusing landowners their right to employment, such departments would be answerable to the Court, said RPP. The party further added “It is also the responsibility of the learned Additional AG representing the government in the case to put a stop to this political propaganda against the RPP”.
ANCSU serves ultimatum on government
Meanwhile, All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) had expressed its discontentment to the higher education department, Nagaland, in delaying the disbursement of scholarship 2022. ANCSU has served an ultimatum on the state government to disburse the scholarship within 10 days.
According to a representation addressed to the director, higher education, government of Nagaland, ANCSU president, Toito D Chishi, and general secretary, Tenyesinlo Bukh, failing to within the 10 days time frame, it would resort to any “befitting democratic protest” of the day.
ANCSU also conveyed “unsatisfactory” over the state government’s failure to address the needs of the student’s community year after on priority and added that though it understands the requisite procedure to issue drawal authority, however, it would reiterated that it cannot remain mute observers when the students’ interests are deliberately disregarded.